Sir Kingsford produces gutsy effort to win Port Adelaide Cup
Piloting the field in his first attempt at 2500m, Sir Kingsford refused to lay down in a toe-to-toe battle with Basilinna, after the mare threw down the gauntlet at the top of the straight.
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Emotions spilt over for Gawler handler Nicole Searle, who trains in partnership with husband Gary, and daughter, Brianna Callanan.
'What a great feeling. To our team at home, well done,' Searle said post-race.
'You've all worked hard. Gary and Brianna, and to the owners of this horse, it's been a long journey.
'We trained his mum, we lost her, unfortunately, last year. We were really looking forward to the filly that she was carrying but this is a tough horse.
'He's just a really nice horse and probably has taken over the mantle from Lady Silhouette as the best horse we've had.'
Sir Kingsford won by a length, guided by a brilliant frontrunning ride from Teagan Voorham, it secured a second Port Adelaide Cup win for Voorham, who saluted aboard Hasta La War in 2023.
Voorham admitted that she thought Basilinna, ridden by Lachlan Neindorf, would overhaul them, but Sir Kingsford kept on fighting.
'I personally was worried. I thought when Lachie got to me, he's going to go straight past me,' Voorham said.
'But this horse, he's unreal. He hears another horse and he just digs harder and harder every time.
'Every time I thought Lachie was going past me, Sir Kingsford, 'Billy' as we call him – he just said absolutely not.'
Teagan Voorham, Nicole Searle and connections pose with Sir Kingsford after the Port Adelaide Cup win at Morphettville on Saturday. Picture: Makoto Kaneko
Gun filly On Display, trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, charged home for an electric win in the Adelaide Guineas (1600m).
Ridden by Ben Melham, the filly peeled to the outside at the 400m, letting go with a blistering turn of foot to defy local hope Stirrup Cup. The result helped connections put a luckless last start run with the filly behind them.
'It's a nice consolation, we've always liked this filly,' Kent Jr said.
'Expensive purchase, gorgeous type, (she's) always had a big sprint on her.'
Felicity Atkinson steered Voltage Point to an impressive first up win for trainer Chris Bieg, the apprentice hoop is riding in career-best form.
The result kicked off an early double for Bieg, who later found success with Annihilate in the Autumn Series Final (1600m).
Trainer Stephen Theodore trusted his horse Fine Future to get the money on Saturday, and that confidence was well founded, the Japanese gelding stormed away to win under Jamie Melham in the David Thomas Memorial Provincial Pathways Final.
It was an emotional victory for Theodore, who spoke of his friendship with the late Thomas, who was a well-respected and loved figure in South Australian racing.
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News.com.au
12 hours ago
- News.com.au
Ray Thomas's best bets and inside mail for Warwick Farm on Wednesday
Form expert Ray Thomas analyses Wednesday's seven-race card at Warwick Farm, presenting his best bets, quaddie picks and inside mail. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET Race 1 No.3 BURMA STAR: Just missed when resuming, strips fitter and is suited coming back slightly in trip to 1100m. NEXT BEST Race 4 No.4 PRIMA BELLA: She was very impressive at Warwick Farm, her third win from four starts this campaign, and is a superior mudlark. VALUE Race 2 No.9 SPICE PRAWN: Improving filly who wasn't suited by the race tempo last start but still hit the line well. She's ready to win. QUADDIE Race 4: 3,4,7,9 Race 5: 2,3,7 Race 6: 1,4,7,13 Race 7: 3,4,13,14 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Jason Collett has a good book of six rides including leading chances Beside The Ocean, Prima Bella, Fairway Star and Signor Tortoni. TRAINER TO FOLLOW Bjorn Baker will be trying to utilise his home track advantage when represented by promising first starters, Defiance and Senjutsu, and the in-form Shalaa Gold, Fairway Star and O'Invincible. BURMA STAR (3) was easy in betting and had his chance to win first-up when run down by Tyreek at Canterbury two weeks ago. Burma Star got through the heavy track conditions that day well which should stand him in good stead for this race. Trainer Chris Waller has decided to take the blinkers off and put visors on, James McDonald stays with the Godolphin colt and coming back slightly to 1100m is in his favour. I liked the way GUS THE GREAT (5) finished off in a recent trial and he should go well on debut. WEST OF SWINDON (1) is talented but has a big weight and wide barrier to overcome. DEFIANCE (4) is another trailing well. BET: BURMA STAR (3) to win, saver on GUS THE GREAT (5) each way. SPICE PRAWN (9) gets her chance here. She was very good first-up when a close second to promising Without Peer then ran on without threatening when fourth to Tyreek and Burma Star at Canterbury. Spice Prawn will appreciate going to 1300m and is ready to win. First starter MEAN AS (5) is the danger. He has an extravagant action but sailed through heavy going to impressively win a recent Warwick Farm trial by an increasing margin. BESIDE THE OCEAN (8), by champion sire Zoustar, is a half sister to Golden Slipper winner Farnan and she ran very well on debut when second at Kensington. Drawn wide but that might be to her advantage given the very heavy track conditions. BET: Box quinella 5,8,9. KIMBERLEY SECRETS (1) has never missed a place in four previous first-up runs, winning twice, and she resumes here off two easy trial wins. Smart mare who handles soft tracks although she's a query on this testing track. She looked trained up for her return. MERGEILA (2) is a promising mare by unbeaten US triple crown winner Justify. She ran only eighth in a recent Rosehill trial but was held up in the straight and went to the line going half pace. CHIDIAC (4) has won four of her five starts and cruised home at Scone first-up last month. She has trialled well since and has a fitness edge over her two main rivals. SOUTHERN HEIRESS (7) has won both her starts and deserves consideration. BET: Box trifecta 1,2,4,7. PRIMA BELLA (4) is in a rich vein of form. She attacked the line strongly to win over the Warwick Farm 1000m course last start, handling the heavy 8 conditions with ease. She has won three of her four starts this campaign including a Newcastle win on a bottomless track. Superior mudlark and the one to beat. CAMBAR (7) showed promise winning his first three starts then had excuses with successive defeats over summer. Resuming off two impressive trial wins and he has won in heavy going. DESI EMPEROR (3) is also racing in very good form while SHALAA GOLD (9) has been improved by two runs back and handles these conditions. BET: PRIMA BELLA (4) to win, watch betting moves for CAMBAR (7). KAPAKIRI (2) was back in the field on the inside and held up for a run at the top of the straight before working home strongly to finish fifth, beaten a length at Kensington. Eye-catching first-up effort, fitter here, gets out to 1600m and James McDonald goes on. ISLAND DREAM (7) came off heels and charged home to win at Canterbury. Improving mare who handles wet tracks. FAIRWAY STAR (4) ran on well to win over the Warwick Farm 1600m course last start but the very heavy track is a concern. INVESTMENT (6) does enjoy these wet conditions but she is coming back slightly in trip. BET: KAPAKIRI (2) to win. SIGNOR TORTONI (4) won his maiden at Gosford, backed that up with a tough effort on a heavy track at Canterbury before going to Saturday grade where he ran third at Randwick. He was beaten last start by smart types Glorious Moments and Codetta and is well suited back in midweek grade. FORMAL DISPLAY (1) is an interesting runner. A two-time winner from seven starts in Ireland, he has shown plenty of speed in two recent barrier trials. ICEMAN (13) has only one win from 18 starts but he's racing consistently of late and handles these conditions. DIMITROV (7) has been competitive in two runs back and he did win over the Warwick Farm 1400m course at his third run in last campaign. BET: Box trifecta 1,4,7,13. METAPHORICALLY (3) jumped to the front, controlled the race and scored a comfortable win over La Roja and The Replicant at Canterbury last start. The minor placegetters have both come out and won since to frank the form. Metaphorically has drawn well and looks the one beat provided he handles the very heavy conditions. SESSIONS ROAD (4) comes off successive minor placings in Melbourne and he is a good wet-tracker. RINGAROSA (14) is another who handles wet tracks well and is working up to a win. O'INVINCIBLE (13) is also racing in good form but has a wide barrier to overcome.
The Advertiser
20 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Young sensation Piastri to have stand named after him
Young Australian motor-racing sensation Oscar Piastri is set to have a grandstand named after him at the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit in Melbourne next year. The 24-year-old Victorian currently leads the F1 championship with with 14 of the 24 races completed this season. The Piastri Grandstand will be located on the main straight, opposite pit lane. The Fangio Grandstand will remain, with the structure growing in capacity and sectioned into two - Piastri and Fangio, with the Piastri Grandstand incorporating the most premium and sought after seats closest to the start line. Piastri will join a number of other Australian drivers who have a grandstand named after them, including Jack Brabham, Arthur Waite, Alan Jones, Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber. "I'm very excited by the news that I'll have my own grandstand at next year's Australian Grand Prix," said Piastri. "It feels very surreal, and I never thought this would happen but the support is incredible and I can't wait to see it all come together next March. "Seeing all the fans in my own grandstand directly opposite the McLaren garage is going to be an amazing experience and I'm really looking forward to feeling the energy and the atmosphere." Piastri leads the F1 standings with 284 points with 12 podiums. He is followed by McLaren teammate Lando Norris on 275 points, also 12 podiums. Defending champion Max Verstappen is third on 187 points for Red Bull, while George Russell in his Mercedes is fourth on 172. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc rounds out the top five on 151 points. The Australian GP will take place from March 5-8 next year. Young Australian motor-racing sensation Oscar Piastri is set to have a grandstand named after him at the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit in Melbourne next year. The 24-year-old Victorian currently leads the F1 championship with with 14 of the 24 races completed this season. The Piastri Grandstand will be located on the main straight, opposite pit lane. The Fangio Grandstand will remain, with the structure growing in capacity and sectioned into two - Piastri and Fangio, with the Piastri Grandstand incorporating the most premium and sought after seats closest to the start line. Piastri will join a number of other Australian drivers who have a grandstand named after them, including Jack Brabham, Arthur Waite, Alan Jones, Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber. "I'm very excited by the news that I'll have my own grandstand at next year's Australian Grand Prix," said Piastri. "It feels very surreal, and I never thought this would happen but the support is incredible and I can't wait to see it all come together next March. "Seeing all the fans in my own grandstand directly opposite the McLaren garage is going to be an amazing experience and I'm really looking forward to feeling the energy and the atmosphere." Piastri leads the F1 standings with 284 points with 12 podiums. He is followed by McLaren teammate Lando Norris on 275 points, also 12 podiums. Defending champion Max Verstappen is third on 187 points for Red Bull, while George Russell in his Mercedes is fourth on 172. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc rounds out the top five on 151 points. The Australian GP will take place from March 5-8 next year. Young Australian motor-racing sensation Oscar Piastri is set to have a grandstand named after him at the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit in Melbourne next year. The 24-year-old Victorian currently leads the F1 championship with with 14 of the 24 races completed this season. The Piastri Grandstand will be located on the main straight, opposite pit lane. The Fangio Grandstand will remain, with the structure growing in capacity and sectioned into two - Piastri and Fangio, with the Piastri Grandstand incorporating the most premium and sought after seats closest to the start line. Piastri will join a number of other Australian drivers who have a grandstand named after them, including Jack Brabham, Arthur Waite, Alan Jones, Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber. "I'm very excited by the news that I'll have my own grandstand at next year's Australian Grand Prix," said Piastri. "It feels very surreal, and I never thought this would happen but the support is incredible and I can't wait to see it all come together next March. "Seeing all the fans in my own grandstand directly opposite the McLaren garage is going to be an amazing experience and I'm really looking forward to feeling the energy and the atmosphere." Piastri leads the F1 standings with 284 points with 12 podiums. He is followed by McLaren teammate Lando Norris on 275 points, also 12 podiums. Defending champion Max Verstappen is third on 187 points for Red Bull, while George Russell in his Mercedes is fourth on 172. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc rounds out the top five on 151 points. The Australian GP will take place from March 5-8 next year.
7NEWS
a day ago
- 7NEWS
Oscar Piastri to have grandstand named after him at Melbourne's Albert Park Grand Prix circuit
Young Australian motorsport sensation Oscar Piastri is set to have a grandstand named after him at the Albert Park Grand Prix circuit in Melbourne next year. The 24-year-old Victorian currently leads the F1 championship with 14 of the 24 races completed this season. The Piastri Grandstand will be located on the main straight, opposite pit lane. The Fangio Grandstand will remain, with the structure growing in capacity and sectioned into two — Piastri and Fangio, with the Piastri Grandstand incorporating the most sought-after seats closest to the start line. Piastri will join a number of other Australian drivers who have a grandstand named after them, including Jack Brabham, Arthur Waite, Alan Jones, Daniel Ricciardo and Mark Webber. 'I'm very excited by the news that I'll have my own grandstand at next year's Australian Grand Prix,' said Piastri. 'It feels very surreal, and I never thought this would happen but the support is incredible and I can't wait to see it all come together next March. 'Seeing all the fans in my own grandstand directly opposite the McLaren garage is going to be an amazing experience and I'm really looking forward to feeling the energy and the atmosphere.' Piastri leads the F1 standings with 284 points with 12 podiums. He is followed by McLaren teammate Lando Norris on 275 points, also 12 podiums. Defending champion Max Verstappen is third on 187 points for Red Bull, while George Russell in his Mercedes is fourth on 172. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc rounds out the top five on 151 points. The Australian GP will take place from March 5-8 next year.
